Ontario inks pact to clear way for expanded commuter-rail service between Toronto, Waterloo

The province of Ontario has secured an agreement-in-principle with CN that will allow GO Transit to provide two-way, all-day rail service between Toronto and the Waterloo region.

The tentative pact calls for starting a planning and technical analysis for a new freight corridor that would allow CN to shift most of its freight traffic from a section of the Kitchener corridor to a new corridor. This would free up capacity for more GO Transit service through Brampton and Kitchener, according to a news release issued by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

The province will be seeking support from the Canadian government to construct the new rail corridor.

"Expanding GO Transit between Kitchener-Waterloo and the [greater Toronto area] will reduce commute times and make a real difference in people's daily lives," Wynne said. "Most exciting is that the agreement we have reached with CN brings us another step closer to building the innovation supercorridor by connecting the Waterloo Region and Toronto with two-way, all-day electric GO trains."

Meanwhile, Wynne also announced that her province is committing up to $43 million (in Canadian dollars) to help fund Waterloo's proposed transit hub in downtown Kitchener. The hub is aimed at making it easier for riders to connect to GO Transit rail and bus service, light-rail being built in the Waterloo region, VIA Rail Canada Inc. services, and local and inter-city bus services.